Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-02-18
cVGRET MARRIAGE.
BY RUFUS HALE.

ace. Their fathers were partners
in a village hardware store, where
William was employed as clerk
Occasionally he was allowed a va
cation, during which he would pass
many pleasant hours with MISS
Graham. She would accompany
him, with a sister, on sailing ex-
cursions along the Delaware coast
IN a boat owned by the young man.
His residence was situated near
the shore, not far from Cape Hen
lopen. The hardware store was IN
a village half mile back from the
coast, and there also was Mary's
home.
The lovers feared that Mary S
father would force her to accept
the attention of certain retired,
wealthy old merchant named kog'
er Bronson, who sometimes called
upon HIM, and who seemed to have
taken a liking to the girl. This
Bronson was distantly related to
William Trueman, the latter's moth
er having been his third cousin.
The lovers finally resolved, after
talking over their prospects, that
they would go of down the river
in Williams boat and get married
without their parents knowledge.
Therefore, as shown above, Mary
had agreed 'to be there at SIX
o'clock ION the morrow
Timid aud blushing, but none
the less firm in her purpose, Mary
came at the appointed time.
William helped her into the
boat; then he unrOlled his sail,
and away he went with his intend
ed prize.
1t was a dark, cloudy afternoon
As the two sailed on, a terrific
gale suddenly burst upon them
from the direction of the land,
driving the boat from the coast.
The sail was torn and blown
away before William could roll up
his canvass and take down his
mast. lie could only keep the
boats head to sea and let her rush
on.
Darkness at length fell upon the
stormy sea, with no abating of the
tempest.
In the distance William saw the
light of a vessel, but he had no
hope of reaching it, as it seemed to
recede from him. But after a time
the light of the distant vessel seem
ed to approach.
1--WE may be picked up he said
to Mary. "That craft is coming
this way
As he spoke a wave, more vio-
lent than any which had preceded
it, struck the boat, hurting 1t side
ways, with a suddenness which
caused the youth to lose his bal.
ance.
Hefell overheard, trying to clutch
the stern as he went, but in vain.
A minute later the boat shot out
of sight in the darkness, and there
he was, struggling in the wild sea.
lie was an excellent swimmer, but
he must eventually have persisted
in the raging waters had he not
caught hold of the boats mast,
which had been swept from the
craft by the torrent of water that
had rushed over the gunwale when
he fell into the ocean.
For long time he chung to the
spar, thinking more of Mary, how
ever, than of himself.
Left alone in that drifting boat,
she might, he feared, be unable to
keep its head to the sea, although
her position was such that she
could easily work the tiller.
The sea- had gone down a little
since the change of wind, but there
was still danger of the boat being
swamped unless it was carefully
managed.
William kept his gaze upon the
vessels light which had previously
been approaching. This, now, was
moving along in another direction
1t passed him at too great a dis.
lance for him to make himself
heard by shouting.
Hours went by. The gale had
abated, and the moon had for some
time been shining from cleared
sky.
William noticed he was now
drifting towards the coast.
He saw the sail Of a fishing smack
coming out from the cape in the
distance. Standing along, first on
one track aud then on the other, it
finally drew near enough for him
TO make himself heard by the crew.
lie was picked up, and he per
shaded the men to cruise in search
Of his boat.
1t was found at last, turned bot
tom upward and empty.
81 thought som grOaned the
youth. "Mary is lost"
Dawn was now come.
The fishermen took the young
nan to land. He hurried home,
and frankly described what had
happened to his father.
"FoOlish boy" cried the latter.
'NVhat have you donef There was
not the slightest necessity for your
attemntinO In get married without